Alternate method of showing commercials using personal video recorders

ABSTRACT

A recording and playback system comprising a personal video recorder (“PVR”) coupled to a television monitor. The PVR records a video broadcast stream which comprises main program information as well as commercial content. The commercial content includes commercial identifier values which indicate to the PVR the presence of commercial content. Thus, during playback on the monitor, the PVR monitors the recorded broadcast stream for the commercial identifiers to determine the presence of commercial content. A user can control the PVR to play back the recorded stream in a conventional manner in which commercials interrupt the main program information. Alternatively, the user can cause the PVR to play back the recorded broadcast stream in an alternate format in which the main program information continues to play concurrently with the commercial content.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to a method of showingcommercials or other forms of information on a television monitorwithout interrupting the main program being shown. More particularly,the invention relates to recording a video broadcast stream, and duringplayback of the recorded broadcast showing commercials on the monitorconcurrently with the main program.

[0005] 2. Background of the Invention

[0006] Since its inception network television has been free to viewers.Instead of viewers paying for the broadcasts, advertising provides muchof the networks' revenue. To a large extent, the price the advertiserspay to have the networks air commercials is determined by the expectednumber of people that will likely watch the commercial. Thus, toincrease advertising revenue and exposure to the advertised product,networks and advertisers strongly desire for as many viewers as possibleto watch the commercials. As is well known, commercials interrupt themain program being broadcast and do so fairly frequently. A significantportion of the viewing audience, however, would rather view the mainprogram without interruptions. Thus, a tension exists between thenetworks and advertisers who want viewers to watch the commercials andthe viewers who would rather the main programming not be interruptedwith commercials. A solution to this problem is highly desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The deficiencies of the prior art described above are solved inlarge part by a recording and playback system, and associated method,comprising a personal video recorder (“PVR”) coupled to a televisionmonitor. The PVR records a video broadcast stream which comprises mainprogram information (e.g., a television show, movie, sporting event) aswell as commercial content. The commercial content includes commercialidentifier values which indicate to the PVR the presence of commercialcontent. During playback on the monitor, the PVR monitors the recordedbroadcast stream for the commercial identifiers to detect the presenceof commercial content. A user can control the PVR to play back therecorded stream in a conventional manner in which commercials interruptthe main program information. Alternatively, the user can cause the PVRto play back the commercial content in an alternate format in which themain program information continues to play concurrently with thecommercial content.

[0008] In one embodiment, the recorded commercial content includes astandard commercial format and an alternate commercial format. Inanother embodiment, the recorded commercial content includes a standardcommercial format and a web page identifier which indicates to the PVRthe location on a network (e.g., the Internet) from which to retrievealternate commercial content.

[0009] Thus, the present invention comprises a combination of featuresand advantages which enable it to overcome various problems of priordevices. The various characteristics described above, as well as otherfeatures, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art uponreading the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentsof the invention, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of a digital recording andplayback system including a personal video recorder and a televisionmonitor;

[0012]FIG. 2 conceptually shows the use of a commercial identifier in abroadcast stream to identify commercial content;

[0013] FIGS. 3A-3D show various embodiments of how commercial contentcan be shown concurrently with a main program on a television screen;

[0014] FIGS. 4A-4B show additional embodiments of how commercial contentcan be shown concurrently with a main program on a television screen;

[0015]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment to that of FIG. 2 in whichthe commercial content includes a web page identifier; and

[0016]FIG. 6 shows a preferred operation of a personal video recorder inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

[0017] Certain terms are used throughout the following description andclaims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in theart will appreciate, computer companies may refer to a component bydifferent names. This document does not attempt to distinguish betweencomponents that differ in name but not function. In the followingdiscussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” areused in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean“including, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” or“couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electricalconnection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, thatconnection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through anindirect electrical connection via other devices and connections. Theterm “commercial” refers to that portion of a video broadcast streamthat contains information on behalf of advertisers, television networkcompanies, or other such entities. The term “main program” refers tothat portion of the broadcast stream that is not commercial content. Amain program includes movies, shows, sporting events, news broadcasts,documentaries, and other such content. The term “concurrently” includes,but is not limited to, “simultaneously.” Thus, two events that stop andstart at the same time are concurrent. Two overlapping events that stopand start at different times are also concurrent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The problem described above regarding the divergent desires ofviewers and network broadcasters/advertisers is solved using a digitaltelevision recording and playback device that records a broadcast streamand plays back the broadcast stream on a television monitor withcommercials shown concurrently with the main program itself. In thisway, the main program is not interrupted, yet the commercial content isalso presented to the viewer. The viewer can decide how the commercialsrecorded with the broadcast stream are to be shown during playback. Ingeneral, the recording and playback device can substantiallycontinuously (ie., substantially without interruption) show the programon the television while commercials are shown in pre-selected orprogrammed areas of the television screen concurrent with the mainprogram.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a video system 100, constructed inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, generallyincludes a personal video recorder (“PVR”) 102 coupled to a televisionmonitor 120 via a cable 104 which couples a video output interface (notshown) to the monitor. As is well-known in the art, PVRs can recordprogramming in a digital format in memory internal to the device. ThePVR 102 includes a processor coupled to the memory and executes softwarestored in the device (e.g., in a read only memory or “ROM”). Like avideo cassette recorder (“VCR”), a PVR permits a viewer to play, pause,rewind, and fast forward through a recorded program. A PVR also permitsslow motion viewing and even frame-by-frame advancing and reversingthrough the digitally recorded program. PVR 102 in the preferredembodiment may be any suitable PVR now available or later developed thathas been modified to include the functionality described herein. Suchfunctionality may be implemented in the form of software executed by thePVR's processor. Implementing such functionality in software would bewell within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art uponreading the following description. Suitable PVRs commercially availableinclude PVRs currently provided by Sony, Microsoft or ReplyTV. Thesoftware in such PVRs could readily be modified to implement thefunctionality described herein.

[0020] The PVR 102 preferably includes user controls 106 on its frontface which permit a user to perform various functions such as record,play, fast forward, and the like. User controls may also be provided inthe form of a remote control with an infra-red (“IR”) communication linkto the PVR. The PVR 102 can be connected to a network, such as theInternet, via cable 108. A video input interface 110 is also providedwhich permits the PVR 102 to receive video (and audio) input signalsfrom a conventional television antenna, cable, VCR, or any other form ofvideo information.

[0021] The television monitor 120 may be any type of television set nowknown or later developed including, without limitation, conventionaltelevision sets and high definition television sets. As shown, thetelevision monitor 120 includes a screen 122 which may have anyheight-to-width ratio desired.

[0022] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, viauser controls 106, a user records a video broadcast stream whichincludes main programming and commercial content. During playback of therecorded broadcast stream, as explained below, the PVR 102 detects thepresence of commercial content and differentiates the commercials fromthe programs. Then, in any one of variety of formats and variations, PVR102 concurrently plays the commercials and the main program on thescreen 122. FIG. 2 illustrates conceptually how the PVR 102differentiates a commercial from a program. In FIG. 2, a portion 138 ofrecorded broadcast stream is shown. The portion 138 shown includes twoportions of a main program 140 interrupted by commercial content 142.Preferably at or near its beginning, commercial content 142 includes acommercial identifier 144. This identifier indicates to PVR 102 that thevideo segment associated with the identifier includes one or morecommercials. The identifier may be a signal or data value of any type,length or format which performs the function noted above. For example,the commercial identifier 144 may be a predetermined binary value. Ifdesired, the identifier may also indicate the length of the commercialor commercials which follow. Such length may be identified by number ofbytes if the broadcast stream is a binary sequence of values, time, orin any other suitable manner. Alternatively, another value (not shown)can be included at the end of the commercial(s) to mark the end of thecommercial.

[0023] Alternatively, the commercial content in a broadcast stream canbe identified without the use of an explicit identifier 144. Forexample, the commercial content can be identified “passively” such as bya change in volume level (e.g., commercial audio increases in soundlevel) or by a predetermined relatively short duration video pattern(e.g., a momentary black video frame). One of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize many other ways to passively identify commercial contentto a PVR.

[0024] Referring still to FIG. 2, the commercial content 142 preferablyincludes a “standard” commercial video portion 146 and an alternatecommercial video portion 148 provided, for example, on separate channelsin the broadcast stream 138. Alternatively, the commercial portions 146,148 can be provided sequentially. Further still, the alternatecommercial portion 148 could be “embedded” in the same channel as thestandard portion 146 or could be included in a “blanking area” in thebroadcast steam. The standard commercial portion 146 causes the PVR 102to show the commercial in a full screen format in accordance withconventional television programming. That is, the main program 140ceases while the standard commercial 146 plays. After the commercial 146is completed, the program 140 continues.

[0025] If, however, the PVR 102 reads or otherwise detects thecommercial identifier 144, then the PVR shows the alternate commercialportion 148 on the television screen 122. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment, the alternate commercial portion 148 is shownconcurrently with the main program 140 which preferably does not ceaseplaying. Any of a variety of suitable techniques for playing both thealternate commercial portion 148 and the main program 140 areacceptable. FIGS. 3A-3D and 4A-4B show several exemplary techniques.

[0026] In FIGS. 3A-3D, the PVR 102 divides the screen 122 into twofields 150 and 152 with field 150 used to show the main program 140 andfield 152 used for the alternate commercial portion 148. As shown, field150 may be a reduced version of the full screen and its aspect ratio(ratio of height to width) may be the same as for the fully screen.Conventional techniques exist to scale the main field from a full screenwindow to any desired size. In general, field 150 preferably comprises aquadrangle. Field 152 preferably is an “L-shaped” window which bordersfield 150 on the bottom and to the left as in FIG. 3A. Alternately,L-shaped field 152 may be shown in other regions of screen 122 ifdesired such as those shown in FIGS. 3B-3D. Further, the field used forthe alternate commercial 148 need not be L-shaped as shown in FIGS.3A-3D. FIG. 4A, for example, illustrates screen 122 divided into threeregions. The center region 150 is used to show the main program 140.Side regions 154 and 156 can be used to show the alternate commercialportion 148. Further still, the screen 122 can be divided into tworegions as in FIG. 4B. Region 150 may be used to show the main program140 while region 158 is used for the alternate commercial portion 148.

[0027] The relative sizes and shapes of the fields used for thealternate commercial portion 148 can be varied in any desired fashion.The embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A-3D and 4A-4B are exemplary only. Thealternate commercial portion 148 contains video especially formatted forshowing on screen 122 in a non-conventional format, such as that shownin FIGS. 3A-3D and 4A-4B, while the main program 140 concurrently isshown on screen 122. Preferably only the sound associated with the mainprogram 140 is played on television monitor 120 or speakers connected toit. If desired, the user can use controls 106 to cause the PVR to playsound associated with the main program 140, commercial 148, or both.

[0028]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in which commercial content160 includes a commercial identifier 144, such as that described above,a web page identifier 162 and a standard commercial portion 146.Noticeably absent, relative to the embodiment of FIG. 2, is thealternate commercial portion 148. Instead, the commercial segment 160includes a web page identifier 162 which identifies or is used toidentify a web page on a network 166 (e.g., the Internet). The web pageidentifier 162 may be a Universal Resource Locator (“URL”) or InternetProtocol (“IP”) address. The web page identifier 162 provides anindication to the PVR 102 as to where to find an alternate commercialportion 164 on the network. Thus, rather than including the alternatecommercial portion in the transmitted broadcast stream 138 itself as inFIG. 2, the broadcast stream 138 includes a mechanism for the PVR 102 touse to retrieve the alternate commercial portion from another location.Once retrieved in this manner, the PVR 102 may show the alternatecommercial portion 164 on screen 122 in a format, such as that of FIG. 3or 4, and concurrently with the main program 140. The alternatecommercial portion retrieved from the network or included in thebroadcast stream can be a single frame of video, a motion sequence, oreven a segment that is interactive with the user via, for example,controls 106. Further, if desired, both an alternate commercial portionand a web page identifier can be included in the broadcast stream andeither technique can be selected for showing commercials concurrentlywith main programming. The user can make this selection via controls 106or the PVR 102 can be preset for either technique.

[0029] As an additional embodiment, the PVR 102 may download alternatecommercial content from the web at a different time than when thecommercials are to be shown. For example, the PVR 102 may access the webin the middle of the night to download alternate commercial content.Then, during the day when the broadcast stream is received, thealternate commercial portions are already available in the PVR and neednot be included in the broadcast stream. This and other embodimentsdescribed herein also permit the alternate commercial content to becustomized to the individual viewer. A website can identify the viewervia the PVR's IP address or other suitable means and provide customizedcontent according to information stored at a website associated withthat viewer.

[0030] The method 200 of FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of PVR 102with the capability disclosed herein. In step 202, the PVR 102determines whether a commercial identifier is present at or near thebeginning of a commercial. If the determination is no, then thecommercial is shown in a standard format (ie., cessation of the mainprogram and a full screen presentation of the commercial). If acommercial identifier is present, however, then the PVR 102 determineswhether an alternate commercial portion is present as part of thetransmitted commercial content (step 210). If the alternate commercialportion is present, then in step 214 the PVR shows the alternatecommercial portion concurrently with the main program. The memory in thePVR which stores the broadcast stream preferably is fast enough toenable recall of both the main program and the alternate commercialportion and assembly into the desired screen format. If no alternatecommercial portion is present, the PVR determines (step 220) whether aweb page identifier is present. If such an identifier is present, thenin step 224, the PVR 102 retrieves the alternate commercial content fromthe web site identified by the web page identifier and shows the contentconcurrently with the main program. Lastly, if a commercial identifieris present (step 202), but neither an alternate commercial portion or aweb page identifier is present (steps 210, 220), then in step 230, thestandard commercial is shown as a “picture-in-picture” format with themain program, according to known techniques.

[0031] It should be recognized that, rather than prerecording an entirebroadcast stream and then playing it back, the broadcast stream can beshown on monitor 122 with a time delay of suitable length to permit thecommercials to be played concurrently with the main program. The PVR'sprocessor stores the broadcast stream, or at least a part of the stream,in internal memory and plays back the stream from memory. The internalmemory, in the form of a first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) buffer, preferablyhas enough capacity to implement a desired time delay. For example, if a10 minute time delay is desired, the PVR's memory preferably can store10 minutes worth of the broadcast stream. Being able to buffer 10minutes of the broadcast permits the PVR to play back the broadcast witha 10 minute delay. Alternatively, the user can introduce a time delay bysimply pausing the video for a desired amount of time. Preferably, thetime delay is at least as long as the length of a commercial. As such,when a commercial is encountered, the PVR 102 can play both thecommercial and the program. This permits, in effect, live broadcasts(albeit with a time delay) to be shown without commercial interruptionsas described previously.

[0032] The embodiments described above permit standard commercials to beshown interrupting a main program or alternate commercials to be shownconcurrently with a main program. The user can select either mode ofoperation via controls 106 (or a remote control). Alternatively, thecommercial content providers may dictate how the commercials are to beshown. For example, a code could be included in the commercial content,as part of the commercial identifier or separately, which indicates tothe PVR whether to play standard or alternate commercials. Further, thePVR could be preset to always play alternate commercials concurrentlywith main programming whenever the alternate programs are present in thebroadcast stream.

[0033] The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of theprinciples and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerousvariations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled inthe art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intendedthat the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variationsand modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video playback system, comprising: a personalvideo recorder including user input controls which permit a user tocontrol the operation of the personal video recorder; and a televisionmonitor coupled to said personal video recorder; wherein said personalvideo recorder plays back a previously recorded broadcast stream on saidtelevision monitor, said previously recorded broadcast stream includes amain program and commercial content, said commercial content includes acommercial identifier, a standard commercial portion and an alternatecommercial portion, and wherein a user can select whether the personalvideo recorder is to show the standard commercial portion or thealternate commercial portion on said television monitor.
 2. The videoplayback system of claim 1 wherein, if a user selects the alternatecommercial data portion, said personal video recorder continues to showsaid main program while concurrently showing said alternate commercialportion.
 3. The video playback system of claim 2 wherein said mainprogram is shown in a first field of said television monitor and saidalternate commercial portion is shown in a second field of saidtelevision monitor.
 4. The video playback system of claim 3 wherein saidfirst field comprises a quadrangle and said second field comprises anL-shaped region abutting said quadrangle.
 5. The video playback systemof claim 3 wherein said first field comprises a center quadrangle onsaid television monitor and said second field comprises dividedquadrangles on either side of said center quadrangle.
 6. The videoplayback system of claim 1 wherein the personal video recorder causessound associated only with the main program to be heard.
 7. The videoplayback system of claim 1 wherein the person video recorder causessound associated only with the alternate commercial portion to be heard.8. A video system, comprising: a personal video recorder including userinput controls which permit a user to control the operation of thepersonal video recorder; a television monitor coupled to said personalvideo recorder; and a network connection coupled to said processor;wherein said personal video recorder plays back previously recordedprogramming on said television monitor, said previously recordedprogramming includes a main program and commercial content, saidcommercial content includes a commercial identifier, a standardcommercial portion and a web page identifier, and wherein a user canselect whether the personal video recorder is to show the standardcommercial portion or an alternate commercial portion on the televisionmonitor.
 9. The video playback system of claim 8 wherein said personalvideo recorder uses said web page identifier to locate said alternatecommercial portion.
 10. The video playback system of claim 8 wherein, ifa user selects the alternate commercial portion to be shown on saidtelevision monitor, said personal video recorder continues to show saidmain program while concurrently showing said alternate commercialportion.
 11. The video playback system of claim 8 wherein said mainprogram is shown in a first field on said television monitor and saidalternate commercial portion is shown in a second field on saidtelevision monitor.
 12. The video playback system of claim 11 whereinsaid first field comprises a quadrangle and said second field comprisesan L-shaped portion abutting said quadrangle.
 13. The video playbacksystem of claim 11 wherein said first field comprises a centerquadrangle on said television monitor and said second field comprisesdivided quadrangles on either side of said first region.
 14. The videoplayback system of claim 8 further including a network interface andwherein said alternate commercial portion is downloaded to said videoplayback system at a different time than said alternate commercialportion is shown on said television monitor.
 15. The video playbacksystem of claim 8 wherein the personal video recorder causes soundassociated only with the main program to be heard.
 16. The videoplayback system of claim 8 wherein the personal video recorder causessound associated only with the alternate commercial portion to be heard.17. A personal video recorder, comprising: a processor; user controlscoupled to said processor; a video output interface coupled to saidprocessor; a video input interface coupled to processor; wherein saidprocessor coordinates recording of video information provided over saidvideo input interface, said recorded video information including mainprogram information and commercials, and during playback of saidrecorded video information said processor plays commercials concurrentlywith the main program information or ceases playing the main programinformation to play the commercials.
 18. The personal video recorder ofclaim 17 wherein a user uses said user controls to direct the processorto play the commercials concurrently with the main program informationor to cease playing the main program when playing the commercials. 19.The personal video recorder of claim 17 wherein said processor examinessaid recorded video information for commercial identifiers whichindicate the presence of a commercial in said video information.
 20. Thepersonal video recorder of claim 19 wherein said processor also examinessaid recorded video information for the presence of an alternatecommercial portion which said personal video recorder shows on atelevision monitor at the same time that the main program information isshown.
 21. The personal video recorder of claim 19 further including anetwork connection and wherein said processor also examines saidrecorded video information for the presence of a web page identifierwhich indicates the location of an alternate commercial portion whichsaid personal video recorder retrieves via said network connection andshows on a television monitor concurrently with the main programinformation.
 22. The personal video recorder of claim 21 wherein saidweb page identifier comprises a URL.
 23. The personal video recorder ofclaim 21 wherein said web page identifier comprises an IP address. 24.The personal video recorder of claim 21 wherein said alternatecommercial portion comprises interactive information to be shown on thetelevision monitor.
 25. A method for showing commercial content whileshowing main program information, comprising; (a) recording a broadcastvideo stream comprising main program information and commercial content,said commercial content including a commercial identifier value; (b)playing back said recorded broadcast stream on a television screen; and(c) while playing back said recorded broadcast stream, examining therecorded stream for commercial identifier values.
 26. The method ofclaim 25 further including selecting whether said commercial content isto be played in a full screen format or whether said commercial contentis to be played on a first portion of said screen and the main programinformation is played on a second portion of said screen.
 27. The methodof claim 26 wherein (c) also includes examining the recorded stream forcommercial content that is to be shown on the television screenconcurrently with the main program information.
 28. The method of claim27 further including showing commercial content on said first portion ofsaid screen while the main program information is played on said secondportion of said screen.
 29. A video system, comprising: a processor; avideo input interface coupled to said processor and through which abroadcast stream is received, said broadcast stream including programsand commercials; and a memory device coupled to said processor and inwhich at least a portion of said broadcast stream is stored; a videooutput interface coupled to said processor to provide a video signal toa video monitor; wherein said processor generates said video signal toshow a commercial concurrently with a program on the monitor, andwherein the program and commercial are shown on the monitor delayed intime with respect to the broadcast stream received at the inputinterface.
 30. The video system of claim 29 further including usercontrols coupled to said processor to permit a user to select one of twomodes of operation in which in one mode commercials are shown on themonitor concurrently with a program and in the other mode the programstops playing while a commercial is shown.
 31. The video system of claim29 wherein said time delay is at least as long as a commercial.
 32. Avideo device, comprising: a processor; a video output interface coupledto said processor; and a video input interface coupled to saidprocessor, through which a broadcast stream comprising commercials andprogramming is received; wherein said processor concurrently plays saidcommercials and said programming through said video output interface.33. The video device of claim 32 wherein said broadcast stream includestwo types of commercials wherein one type of commercial interrupts theprogramming and the other type is shown concurrently with theprogramming.
 34. The video device of claim 33 wherein a commercialincludes an identifier value to permit the video device to detect thepresence of the commercial.
 35. The video device of claim 33 wherein thevideo device passively determines the presence of commercials.
 36. Avideo device comprising: a processor; a video output interface coupledto said processor; and memory coupled to said processor; wherein saidprocessor coordinates the transfer of video information including acommercial and programming to said video output interface to be shown ona video monitor coupled to said output interface and wherein saidcommercial and said programming are shown concurrently.
 37. The videodevice of claim 36 wherein said video device includes a video interfacecoupled to said processor and said commercial is transmitted to saidvideo interface in a broadcast stream with said programming.
 38. Thevideo device of claim 37 wherein said processor determines the presenceof commercials.
 39. The video device of claim 36 further including anetwork interface over which said commercials are received.